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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Backwoods Payback - Fire Not Reason

There was upheaval within
the Backwoods camp, prompting the band to "vanish" for a while, much
to my sadness. However, Mike Cummings and Jessica Baker stealthily regrouped
bringing in Erik Larson - Alabama
Thunderpussy, Hail!Hornet, et al - on drums, turning the band into a
powerhouse trio. A reshaping of the sound occurred as well, but don't fear
fellow Backwoods worshippers, they haven't gone mathcore on us. No, instead
they have souped up the engine, turning it into a monster machine. Blending
punk, stoner and neck-breaking rock with their own beautiful sound, and going
for even more cleansing, cathartic and angry lyrics, Backwoods Payback has
struck a goldmine. I've followed the band for a long time and have witnessed
them tweak their music slightly with each new release, moving them forward and
ahead of so many others, while retaining their original foundation. This same
transition, or tweaking, is so vivid on 'Fire Not Reason' and I love
every second of it. Also, having the band back is alone a magnificent bonus but
then add this new album and euphoria sets in and it won't let go.

No holds barred, opener 'Elephants'
unleashes the fury from the get-go. Upfront and personal the band goes full
tilt aided by Mike's angry yet delicate voice. A strange but beautiful
concoction which lends a guiding light to what 'Fire Not Reason' has in
store. Short, sharp and furious, ‘You
Don’t Move’ stampedes like a herd of raging rhinos. Brief moments of
respite is offered here and there, but by the drop of a hat you’re pulled back
into the maelstrom. ‘Dirge’ is slow,
sludgy and sinister and a hell of a mindfuck. That latter part is further
enhanced by Mike’s Chris Goss-like eerie singing. Backwoods Payback reels me in
hook, line and sinker in between bursts of mayhem. Claustrophobic yet
liberating in all it’s grief.

The band sort of return
to their early days on ‘Don’t Try’
bringing out a lot of stoner and punk vibes. Heavy on the riffs and a loud,
tight rhythm section, the band pummels me hard and mercilessly and I can’t help
bouncing off walls, taking in blow after blow. Nitty, gritty and dirty, ‘Tuxedo’ is a lovely amalgamation of
stoner, seriously pissed off lyrics about dejection and betrayal coming at me
at 180mph. Then it stops abruptly and becomes an eerie, haunted composition
which builds up to jawbreaking crescendo. Musically, ‘Even Odds’ is sort of the odd one out being acoustic and all, but
lyrically it ties everything together. To me it brings all the different
emotions on the album together in a wonderful lament, and, by being acoustic,
it brings the pulse down allowing you to deal easier with the ongoing turmoil.
It might not necessarily help per se, but it’s an honest attempt if there ever
was one and the song is so beautiful in all it’s sadness.

Led-heavy, slow and
punishing, ‘That Dream Again’ is also
trippy and paranoid. Sounds strange maybe, but Backwoods Payback are on point
here which is even further enhanced by the sudden eruptions of a faster tempo,
only for them to revert back and forth. It takes brilliance to weave it all
together and make it cohesive and captivating. ‘Snakes’ is bluesy and groovy and goes wide open in the verses.
More straightforward than the rest, it is still beautiful and serves a purpose.
Closer ‘California Lean’ is full of
spine-chilling riffs backed by a bone-breaking rhythm section performed in a
groove filled maelstrom. But that’s not all because harmonies runs side by side
with all this which, in my opinion, brings out emotions and reactions in a
wonderful way.

Backwoods Payback are
back waveriders, and they are taking the world by storm! I have never doubted
their abilities or talents. The first time I saw them live was a defining
moment for me and this is one of those rare bands who does what they want for
themselves and the outcome is beyond words. No changes are big enough to
alienate supporters, instead they want to challenge us to expand our own sonic
universes. By retaining what is the core of Backwoods Payback and adding new
twists and turns the music is for sure them but we, the supporters, have to
open our ears and minds to the added dimensions they bring. And man, what is
brought out on ‘Fire Not Reason’ is
truly amazing. To come back in this fashion makes me marvel at what the band
has in store for us next time. Because the well of greatness Backwoods Payback
possess seems bottomless and I for one is eternally grateful.

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